Here’s how much Nevada will pay former Boise State assistant as next head football coach

Former Boise State assistant coach Jeff Choate signed a 5-year, $5.775 million contract to be Nevada’s head football coach, according to Nevada Sports Net.

The deal is the largest for a Wolf Pack football coach and the second-largest for a coach of any sport in program history. Former coach Ken Wilson, who was fired Friday after winning just four games the past two years, made $950,000 the past two years. Nevada basketball coach Steve Alford is making $1.25 million this year, making him the highest-paid coach in school history.

Choate’s base salary is $300,000, which matches what Wilson and former Nevada coach Jay Norvell made. Norvell left for Colorado State in 2021.

Choate’s deal comes with addition guaranteed money for media and public appearances. He’ll make an extra $750,000 in year one, making his total salary $1.05 million. That guaranteed money increases by $50,000 every year, eventually topping out at $950,000 in 2028, which will make his total salary $1.25 million that year.

Alford’s annual salary will top out at $1.5 million at the end of his 10-year contract as basketball coach, if he stays with the school.

Choate’s salary would rank No. 10 out of 12 Mountain West coaches this year, right behind new Boise State coach Spencer Danielson, who signed a deal that will pay him $1.1 million in year one.

Choate’s deal includes a $25,000 signing bonus, $25,000 for making the Mountain West championship game and $50,000 for winning it. He’ll get $10,000 for taking Nevada to a bowl game and $25,000 for winning one.

The Wolf Pack last played in a bowl game in 2021, when they lost to Western Michigan 52-24 in the Quick Lane Bowl. They followed that with back-to-back 2-10 seasons.

If Nevada fires Choate before Jan. 31, 2025, it owes him $3.5 million. That number drops to $2.7 million if he’s fired between Feb. 1, 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026; $2 million if he’s fired between Feb. 1, 2026 and Jan. 31, 2027; and $1 million if he’s fired between Feb. 1, 2027 and Jan. 31, 2028.

Choate, 53, had coaching duties at Boise State from 2006 to 2011 that included the running backs, linebackers and special teams. He also coached linebackers at Washington State (2012) and Florida (2013), and defensive linemen at Washington (2014-15).

Choate was the head coach at FCS Montana State from 2016 to 2020, compiling a 28-22 record. He is the co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Texas, a role he will remain in through the end of the season as the Longhorns prepare to play in the College Football Playoff.